Eight-year-old Genevieve Carach catches a balloon as it falls from the ceiling during a special send-off party hosted by Make-A-Wish Colorado and Red Robin -- her favorite restaurant -- on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. Carach was diagnosed with leukemia in December 2021 and finished her treatments last April. She and her family leave for her wish trip to Disney World on Sunday.
In one magical moment on Wednesday, Santa Claus worked with Princess Elsa of "Frozen" films to deliver a glorious wish to 8-year-old Genevieve Carach.
Visions of twister rides, cotton candy and Magic Kingdom parades that await at Disney World next week danced in Genevieve's head, chasing away any bad thoughts about being sick from the leukemia that invaded her body and now is in remission.
At a celebratory sendoff to Disney World from Make-A-Wish Colorado at the Chapel Hills Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews restaurant in Colorado Springs, Disney-themed decorations and balloons reminiscent of "Frozen" movie scenery enveloped the Carach family of Highlands Ranch.
Genevieve called it "awesome," and said she's really excited to leave for Florida in a few days with her parents, Bridget and Jason, and her three older sisters and one older brother.
She ordered her favorite Red Robin dish, macaroni and cheese, and decided to try something new, a milkshake. Genevieve also opened swag gifts from the restaurant and smiled widely when two princess dresses from Make a Wish Colorado appeared at the table.
Genevieve endured two and a half years of cancer treatment, which began with a diagnosis of the blood cancer on Dec. 28, 2021, and ended seven months ago, on May 6.
Over the course of that time, she spent 100 days in the hospital, had 25 blood transfusions and 16 platelet transfusions, lost all of her hair twice and caught two bad infections that led to a port in her chest needing to be replaced.
That was the worst part for Genevieve, who nonetheless proved to be a trouper throughout the surreal ordeal, her family said.
"She smiled the whole time," said Bridget. And Genevieve got to know the night shift staff at Children's Hospital Colorado in Highlands Ranch because her mom said "she was up all night ready to party."
With her sunny nature, Genevieve performed Irish dance while undergoing chemo and requested to eat at Red Robin whenever possible.
Also, her mom made good on a promise at the onset of treatment to get her a kitty at the end of the grueling administrations. Genevieve named her fur baby Marie, after her favorite Disney character who appears in "The Aristocats" movie.
Red Robin was the first stop for the family after Genevieve rang the brass bell at Children's Hospital Colorado in the spring, a tradition that marks the end of cancer treatments. Genevieve's accomplishment drew a crowd of more than 100 people who stood outside the hospital with signs and cheered for her, Bridget said.
Childhood cancer is traumatic for children who endure treatment and also for their families, and although the treatments worked, Bridget said her youngest daughter gets scared anytime she gets sick now.
"She's nervous it's going to happen again," her mom said.
Featured Local Savings
The oldest Carach sibling, Isabelle, was 15 when the baby of the family received the news. Isabelle said she had to try to be strong for her younger siblings, which wasn't always easy because cancer is never anyone's friend.
Because Genevieve's treatments started under pandemic rules, the kids couldn't visit their sick sister in the hospital.
Isabelle recently joined the Make-A-Wish Colorado youth council, which is made up of children who either have received wishes or have siblings who did.
"I had to always think the positive, which was really difficult -- but it's transferred to my everyday life now," Isabelle said.
Wednesday's event kicked off Red Robin's new campaign to benefit Make-A-Wish Colorado.
For the first time, during the massive online Colorado Gives Day on Dec. 10, all 21 Red Robin restaurants in Colorado will donate 20% of eligible net dine-in and to-go orders to the organization.
When placing an order, diners or to-go requesters must mention "Make-A-Wish" to their server or note it on their online order checkout to activate the donation.
There are 435 kids in Colorado who have qualified for wishes and are waiting for them to be fulfilled, said Sarah Grosh, director of community development for Make-A-Wish Colorado, which helps critically ill children realize a dream with their loved ones.
Of those, 68 kids live in El Paso County, and 50 are from Colorado Springs.
A Disney trip -- to either the Florida or California locations -- is the most requested wish, she said.
Last year, the Colorado chapter of the international nonprofit that operates in 50 countries granted 250 travel wishes, she said.
Other popular wishes include backyard makeovers, bedroom makeovers and shopping sprees, according to Grosh. The organization does not grant wishes for vehicles, homes, firearms or cash.
Making children's wishes come true helps relieve stress, gives hope, creates joy, provides normalcy and empowers children to follow their dreams, according to the organization, which estimates that 70% of children who receive wishes live to adulthood.
In a 2022 Wish Impact Study, 91% of parents reported the wish gave their child a better chance of surviving their illness and consider the wish to have been a necessary part of their child's medical treatment.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE GAZETTE